The 120Hz refresh rate on the Galaxy S25 Edge contributes to heat generation primarily due to increased power consumption and processing demands. Here's a detailed explanation:
1. Increased Power Consumption: A 120Hz display refreshes the screen 120 times per second, which is twice as often as a standard 60Hz display. This higher refresh rate requires more power from the battery to maintain the increased rate of screen updates. As a result, the battery and the display components consume more energy, leading to increased heat generation[1][7].
2. Higher Processing Demands: To support a 120Hz refresh rate, the phone's processor must work harder to render and deliver more frames per second. This increased workload on the System-on-Chip (SOC) generates more heat, as the SOC is a significant heat source in smartphones[1][7].
3. Adaptive Refresh Rate Technology: The Galaxy S25 series features dynamic refresh rates that can adjust from 1Hz to 120Hz based on the content displayed. While this technology helps reduce power consumption when viewing static content, it still requires more power when operating at higher refresh rates like 120Hz during gaming or scrolling[3][5].
4. Thermal Management: The Galaxy S25 series includes advanced thermal management features, such as a larger vapor chamber and tailored thermal interface materials, which are designed to improve heat dissipation efficiency[6][9]. Despite these improvements, the increased power consumption and processing demands associated with a 120Hz refresh rate can still contribute to higher temperatures compared to lower refresh rates.
In summary, while the Galaxy S25 Edge's thermal management system is designed to mitigate heat issues, the 120Hz refresh rate inherently increases power consumption and processing demands, contributing to higher temperatures during intense usage scenarios.
Citations:
[1] https://www.reddit.com/r/Xiaomi/comments/y4lqln/my_phone_is_getting_hotter_when_using_120hz_while/
[2] https://www.xda-developers.com/smartphone-display-refresh-rates-explained/
[3] https://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/does-the-galaxy-s25-have-a-120hz-display/
[4] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-tAE-_H9qiU
[5] https://www.nextpit.com/smartphone-resolution-refresh-rate-explained
[6] https://news.samsung.com/my/samsung-galaxy-s25-series-sets-the-standard-of-ai-phone-as-a-true-ai-companion
[7] https://www.androidauthority.com/phone-refresh-rate-90hz-120hz-1086643/
[8] https://eu.community.samsung.com/t5/other-galaxy-s-series/the-issue-with-samsungs-variable-refresh-rates/td-p/3163191
[9] https://news.samsung.com/ph/samsung-galaxy-s25-series-sets-the-standard-of-ai-phone-as-a-true-ai-companion